Wisconsin ESL Institute

Introduction

Founded in 1981, WESLI has been teaching English for over 35 years, earning an excellent reputation with universities, educational agencies, and students from all over the world. We offer a number of programs to help students achieve their personal, professional and academic goals, including Intensive English, Teacher Training, Corporate English, Private Tutoring, Workplace English and English Online. We are located in downtown Madison, Wisconsin – across the street from the state capitol building. Madison is a medium-sized city, located in the heart of the mid-west, and ranked #1 for US city livability in September 2014. Madison is a very safe, friendly and inexpensive city to live in and has a number of universities in town, including the internationally top-ranked University of Wisconsin-Madison. We have 7 levels of English instruction, offering classes for every ability, from beginning to advanced, in the areas of General English & American Culture, Business English, Academic Preparation, and Test Preparation. We have agreements with over 40 universities and colleges that accept our students without a TOEFL score. In addition, we offer private tutoring and customized programs. Through WESLI Workplace, we offer tailored English programs to suit the needs of your company. WESLI English Online allows students anywhere in the world to improve their English on their own time. We offer six, 8-week sessions per year, but students are welcome to study for any length of time. In addition to our Language Programs, we also have a 5-week Teacher Training (TEFL Certification) Program with a 30-hour Practicum. At WESLI, we pride ourselves on our individualized teaching, small class sizes, and diverse student population, welcoming students from all over the world. Many of our teachers and staff have been at WESLI for more than 15 years. In addition, most of our administrative staff members also teach or have taught in the past – we find that this ensures students are always working with people that have a passion for helping students and the experience needed to help. Our teachers and staff strive to create a family-like atmosphere both in and outside of the classroom. The perfect location, unique environment, excellent program, and moderate cost make WESLI one of the best places in the United States to learn English.

Our History

Founded in 1981, WESLI has earned an excellent reputation among universities and colleges for equipping international students with skills to succeed in competitive academic environments. Students from all over the world have had satisfying, memorable cross-cultural experiences at WESLI and in Madison. WESLI has a long history of a family-like atmosphere, as teachers and staff care about students personally while they assist them academically. Most staff members have lived abroad, speak one or more foreign languages, have years of experience teaching English, and have been at WESLI for more than 15 years. Today, WESLI offers over 30 courses across seven levels, an online English program, English for the workplace, and a TEFL certification program. WESLI has about 200 students each session. Students come from over 40 countries.

Mission

WESLI's mission is to prepare students to be leaders and collaborators in their chosen academic and professional environments. WESLI provides exceptional ESL Instruction and Student Services. We teach strong English skills, but we go beyond basic language skills. In all classes, we also teach using these additional principles which will be very important to the success of our students: Cultural Competence: Our teachers are knowledgeable about cultural differences and the importance of our students to understand the differences in American and international cultures. Knowledge and skills which facilitate cross-cultural communication are developed in the spirit of respect, openness, and curiosity. Collaboration: Our teachers and staff work together, bringing each individual's special skills and talents into the WESLI experience. We value this process and our courses provide our students the experience to collaborate across cultures in their future studies and employment. Critical Thinking: We give students the confidence to develop an individual viewpoint with the understanding that others may have a different point of view that should be considered. WESLI teaches students to consider proof to support opinions, positions, and solutions to problems. WESLI wants students to understand it is best to present ideas for consideration and allow people to come to their own conclusions.

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